Ttaskmaster

^ This. I'd have thought your prosecuting solicitor would be able to explain what extenuating circumstances/bullshit excuses led to the leniency, although there may also be some confidentiality things that prevent the other party's side from being disclosed?

All I could find on this was: Careless and inconsiderate driving - Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification - 3-9 points. Failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident - 6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification - 5-10 points. That's all the maximum penalty stuff, though. I couldn't find anything about the minimum penalties and they don't say how much of this is compulsory, apart from the disqualifications. It seems judges often use the bans rather than prison time.

I know you don't want to hear this, but the fines have to be set at the same level for all people equally... otherwise you'd get us normals being fined £250,000 on par with the rich cunts. I'm sure it'd have been a lot more if he'd done any serious damage to you, though... However, as has been mentioned, you can now chase him down for as much as you can. Just make sure you have a good solicitor who will not kowtow to his lot (who will likely be expensive) fobbing you off with their bullshit...

Let me rephrase - Crumpets, tarts, totty and the like all belong on a pillion pad... Real women ride their own bike. This is why the Ttaskmistress does not go pillion, except when drunk! According to my sources, the above is even true of lesbian relationships, apparently...

Crumpets belong on the pillion pad... but *Real* men find a woman who already rides her own Cruiser!!

If you're Kent-based and into bikery things as well as music, festivals, pubs and the like, you could do a lot worse than looking up the English Roses Sisterhood... The 535 is an excellent bike, especially for those of smaller stature... But so too is the 650 Dragstar, as my wife can attest.

Accelerates like one, too!!

I did find it put a very positive slant on the questions - The brand's level of prestige, quality and practicality.... more like their complete and utter LACK of, but there wasn't that option.

Not really - A pack of Cornflakes cost less than Sellotape and the Spokey Dokeys came free in the box!

New reg/rec is £79 at Wemoto, so they're pretty honest about that, at least... assuming they know which is the right one and aren't overcharging for a cheap junk one, of course!

Yes, but bear in mind this is an internet diagnosis only, based on what info you posted. Could still be several other things. You haven't done the silly and left the fuel tap off or anything, have you?

The reg/rec sits inside the right side of the frame, underneath the tank. Not sure if you have carbs or anything else that need removing, but it should be fairly straightforward and easy to access. It should take 2 or 3 bolts undoing and a single plug unplugging to remove the actual unit, with the reverse for swapping in the replacement part. It'd probably take you an hour going slowly and carefully, but you'd save yourself a few squid and get some spanner time under your belt. IIRC, the battery should return about 12.3v but under 13.2v when everything is off. Only when you rev the engine a touch (as in an extra 500-ish rpm) should the voltage increase to no more than 14.8v, which is why bike headlights often go brighter when you open the throttle - It doesn't charge at idle. If it's reading over 14.8v when you rev it up, then the reg/rec is stuffed and not regulating the additional charging current. I'm sure some others better versed in the sorcerous arts of electrickery will chip in with some battery checks and things to help confirm your problem, but in the meantime this may be of useful reading: http://www.yzf600r.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=62130

Might well be the pump, yes. If it usually clicks/buzzes, then it's usually working fine. If it doesn't make noise and the bike runs fine, then I'd assume it's already primed. If it doesn't make any noise and the bike runs badly, then it could just be the cold or your points may need servicing. If you're happy taking things apart, it's likely just a case of lightly sanding the point surfaces.

If it's like a buzzing/rrrrtttttttttttttttttttttttt that slows/stops after a couple of seconds, then yes it's just priming. If it's a slow click-click-click like spokey-dokeys, then possibly something else and possibly a problem...

I did find the ST1100 comfy as heck, but old and odd handling... Age really not so much a factor with FJs, unless you want fancy modern versions of things like speedos.

More than that, Lall... 78kg!! I think OP was looking to move away from Cruisers though - Tasselled leathers probably don't fit any more, if mine are anything to go by!

I used to be a Drag Queen like you... then I took an arrow in the knee. Do what I did - Listen to the Mrs whining about pillioning on your 650 Dragstar, get fed up with it, swap the Dragstar for an FJ1200, start enjoying life again!! Apparently the 3CV is the best model variant, but the 3XW is awesome. Don't worry if it's the non-ABS version, it's usually broken these days anyway.

But once I save up enough to buy Airwolf, who will I then go to for maintenance??!! Is Reading too far to come for a sale? I know of a few small-engined bikes that will likely be coming up for sale once the weather rises a bit above -2ºC... and at least one VanVan that will be for sale after the current owner stops flunking her damn test!

Shouldn't need one of those for the FJ, Lall... It's just the FJR they derped on during design, whereby you can't service the centrestand or suspension linkages without taking the back end off!!

Without even looking at the profile, I knew this was an FJR!!

They might stop long enough to nudge you off the road, sure... and they might also start treating actual Cops with similar disdain too...

It's actually quite hard to flip this bike, as it's so heavy. But as others have said, learn to pull away smoothly. You shouldn't ever need to rev up and dump the clutch. You're a biker, not Tom Cruise and this is an FJ1200 road motorcycle, not an F-14 fighter jet Cat-Launching off an aircraft carrier!! As you start letting the clutch out, roll on the revs - Don't jerk the throttle or dump the clutch. Rev up to maybe 3500rpm and shift up. Smooth controls will get you going far faster and far safer than pretending you'e Maverick & Goose! I get up to 60 in about 4½, maybe 5 seconds on average, with a clutchless shift in between. You don't need to blast off to be fast and if you get it wrong that is one massively heavy bitch to try and wrestle with...

Most Hi-Viz jackets cannot be seen from the front anyway, as the headlight and/or windscreen obscures most of it. The rear is easier, but that's front and centre of the driver's view anyway and most rear-enders happen because they're going too fast or are too close. Side views, reflective piping and all that, pretty pointless IMO.

Here's a bit of an insight for you, or rather the next idiots you encounter - Most "Staffies" are not *proper* Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Proper Staffies have (over many, many decades) had the aggression bred out of them. Any Staff that showed even a hint of aggression was killed, leaving only the nice happy lineages. They were bred to be family pets, ideal for accompanying young children and there's a reason it is known as the 'Nanny Dog'. They're soppy, lovable, loving little guys who would do anything to get a smile from you. These days, many Staffies have been crossbred with violent fighting dogs, by unscrupulous back-alley breeders out to make a quick buck off the Chavscum who just want a status dog. The unfortunate result is that the Staffy genes mean a lot of them still look like proper Staffies. That is why the Staffy has such a bad rep - People are spoiling the breed with their idiocy... and the dog pays the price.

Dog warden is more likely to just kill the dog... Worth speaking to the Dogs Trust or maybe local independent rescue centres.